Chapter 77

Chapter 77

"Everyone’s been telling me, advising me to stop wearing you out."

After getting home, Yu He first helped Fu Yunzhe get out of bed and asked, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

Fu Yunzhe, with one arm around Yu He's neck, replied, "Then you should really stop wearing me out. I’m perfectly fine lying here; why would I need to go to the bathroom?"

Yu He glanced at her watch, "I’ve been out for almost three hours. Are you sure you don’t need to go?"

Fu Yunzhe gently pushed Yu He away, insisting, "I don’t need to."

Yu He was skeptical, "I don’t believe you."

Fu Yunzhe, sitting in the wheelchair, commented, "You’re getting bolder."

Yu He was indeed bold, defying Fu Yunzhe's wishes completely by not just bringing him to the bathroom, but also sternly insisting, "Hurry up and pee."

Fu Yunzhe was nearly exasperated, "What am I supposed to pee if I don’t need to go?"

Post-surgery, with an incision on his lower back, Fu Yunzhe's mobility was severely limited. Tasks that were once simple, like shifting his body using the pull-up bars on the bed, became dangerous due to the risk of tearing the wound. Until the wound healed, getting in and out of bed required assistance.

Fu Yunzhe had a strong-willed personality; he was reluctant to use a urinal and disliked bothering others, leading him to deliberately reduce his water intake to minimize bathroom visits.

However, both drinking less water and holding in urine can be detrimental to one's health. Therefore, Yu He would take Fu Yunzhe to the bathroom at regular intervals, insisting he urinate.

This overly attentive care proved to be somewhat vexing for Fu Yunzhe.

He had reduced his water intake precisely to avoid troubling Yu He, and now, ironically, they were both even more inconvenienced.

Yu He, displaying remarkable patience, leaned against the bathroom door with arms crossed, exuding an aura that said, “You're not leaving until you've peed.”

Yu He threatened, "If you can't pee, it just means you haven’t been drinking enough water. So later, you’ll either drink all the water I’ve poured for you, or we'll go straight to IV fluids, rehydrating you with glucose and saline."

Letting Yu He study medicine was a decision Fu Yunzhe came to deeply regret.

Yu He took his medical knowledge to heart, using it to assertively manage Fu Yunzhe's care.

In over thirty years of life, Fu Yunzhe had never encountered someone who dared to speak to him like this, let alone threaten him with an IV drip. The audacity!

Did she think he was three years old? He wasn’t afraid of needles; why would he be scared of an IV drip?

But Yu He was incredibly stubborn, a crane determined to charge headfirst into a wall without turning back.

Yu He urged again, "Hurry up."

Fu Yunzhe, ultimately unable to outlast the tenacious crane, surrendered, saying, “Alright, alright, stop rushing me. I’m peeing!”

Seconds later, the sound of flowing water filled the air.

Yu He, satisfied, curved her lips into a smirk, "Next time, if you don’t pee properly, I’ll personally help you with it, hands-on."

The sound of water momentarily quivered.

Fu Yunzhe took a deep breath, “Can you be quiet for a moment?”

Yu He shrugged and closed her mouth.

The bathroom was filled only with the sound of running water.

Once Fu Yunzhe pressed the flush button, Yu He’s self-imposed silence lifted, and she continued speaking, “You see, you’ve been peeing for quite a while now. The bladder capacity of an adult ranges from 350-500 milliliters. So, how much did you just pee?”

Fu Yunzhe zipped up and turned his wheelchair around, casting a glance at Yu He, "Or would you prefer to fish it out and weigh it?"

Watching Fu Yunzhe wash his hands, Yu He earnestly explained, "Then you should just pee directly into a measuring container, so I can accurately assess your health condition. When you were in the hospital, the doctors recorded your daily urine output anyway. What's there to be embarrassed about with me? I've seen everything about you."

Fu Yunzhe glared at Yu He angrily, his voice filled with resentment, "I should have poisoned you and made you mute the first day I met you."

Following Fu Yunzhe back to the bedroom, Yu He bent down and lifted him back onto the bed, "You were the one who lied at first, saying you didn’t have to pee."

Fu Yunzhe fell silent for a moment, speaking to Yu He in a tone devoid of fluctuations, "I really didn’t feel anything."

Yu He felt as if a hand had suddenly clutched her heart, causing a pain so intense she found it hard to breathe.

Squatting by the bed, Yu He reassured, "It's normal for the bladder’s reflex to pressure to decrease after surgery, and the disruption in voluntary control is only temporary. You'll recover soon."

Fu Yunzhe's eyes slightly closed as he asked in a low voice, "How soon is 'soon'?"

Only in front of Yu He did Fu Yunzhe allow himself to unmask his impatience for recovery.

How could he not be anxious?

Fu Yunzhe had been confined to a wheelchair for far too long.

*

This time around, Yu He was even busier with school than before.

Eager to graduate as quickly as possible, he had to enroll in numerous elective courses to earn enough credits, fortunately, many electives in Traditional Chinese Medicine could be taken online.

Many people around him couldn’t understand why Yu He insisted on majoring in Acupuncture and Tuina.

Yu He had a keen sense of smell, and his talent lay in Chinese medicine pharmacology. However, he had a weakness: a fear of needles. Choosing Acupuncture and Tuina over a major in Chinese medicine seemed like he was unnecessarily complicating things and choosing the harder path.

Out of frustration, Li Sixian took a trip from Jing City to Yun Su personally to persuade Yu He to change his major.

Li Sixian said, "You had the chance to be directly admitted to Jing City University of Chinese Medicine, but you chose to take the entrance exam yourself. I can even accept that you didn't apply to a specialized medical school but chose Fengcheng University. But why on earth would you choose Acupuncture and Tuina?"

Yu He listened to the lecture, head bowed and hands behind his back.

Ever since Yu He became the triple crown winner in the Si Miao Cup Debate and Medicine competition, Li Sixian had made up his mind to take Yu He as his apprentice, even personally calling Shen Han to ask him to give up this disciple.

Shen Han mentioned that it depends on the child’s own preference.

Li Sixian said, "You can’t cling to a genius seedling just because you’re close to the Fu family. It’s not predestined that Yu He must take the path of traditional Chinese medicine."

They even invoked the name of the legendary Medicine King, claiming that if Shen Han didn’t hand over his apprentice, he would be letting down their forefather.

At the time, Yu He thought Shen Han was exaggerating, but today he realized that Professor Shen’s recount was actually quite understated.

Li Sixian, leaning on his walking cane: "Such a rare talent that many people can't ask for, and you’re wasting it like this. Do you think this is fair to our forefather?"

They really brought up the great Medicine King.

Seeing Li Sixian angrily slamming the table, Yu He got so worried he might have a heart attack, he hurriedly pushed the heart-saving pills forward and poured some tea, handing it over: "Mr. Li, please, calm down first."

Li Sixian picked up the teacup: “Calm down? Even the Medicine King himself could be brought back to life by your infuriating ways. Tell me, why are you so dead set on learning acupuncture and massage?"

Yu He answered honestly: “I believe interest is more important than talent.”

"What is your interest?"

"Spinal cord nerve repair."

Li Sixian’s hand paused as he was drinking tea. He put down the cup and sighed in disbelief, "You’ve really put all your thoughts into this one thing; you don’t have time to think about anything else.”

Yu He didn’t hesitate: "Yes, helping more paraplegic patients stand up again is my lifelong wish."

Yu He’s talent amazed Li Sixian, but his perseverance astonished him even more.

Identifying medicine through smell is a rare talent that many have only read about in books. Li Sixian wished he could showcase Yu He to the world, letting everyone know that the ancient medical books weren’t lying.

The field of prescription research Li Sixian is engaged in is the most lucrative profession at the moment. The formulation of Chinese medicine prescriptions is worth its weight in gold. Many people are breaking their heads trying to get in, but Yu He, born standing at the peak, has no interest in this field. He would rather overcome numerous difficulties to study the obscure art of acupuncture and massage.

Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is human nature. Li Sixian couldn’t comprehend what made Yu He leave the smooth main road and choose this rugged and bumpy path instead?

Until today, he understood. The answer was just three words.

Fu Yunzheng.

No wonder Shen Han was certain that Yu He has a heart for saving the world; he is indeed a person with such a mission.

Yu He entered the gate of Chinese medicine with a heart set on salvation.

However, the path of salvation he chose to embark upon was not in herbal medicine, but in acupuncture and massage aimed at spinal cord nerve repair.

Aiding more paraplegic patients is Yu He’s calling.

While herbal medicine has its myriad of advantages, when it comes to spinal recovery, it ultimately cannot match the direct effects of acupuncture and massage.

Li Sixian’s hands trembled slightly, his heart unwilling to let go, he sighed deeply and said, “Yu He, there was a heavy rain in the capital city, and there were thousands of vehicles and pedestrians. Yet, I got into your car. This indicates that there was supposed to be a master-disciple fate between us, predetermined by destiny. Even if you enter the field of Chinese medicine, I won’t stop you from learning what you wish to learn. Isn’t that acceptable?”

“Mr. Li, if it weren’t for Fu Yunzheng, I wouldn’t have chosen to study Chinese medicine, nor would I have participated in the Simiao Cup,” Yu He’s gaze fell on the walking stick beside Li Sixian’s hand, “Among thousands of pedestrians on the road, I noticed you because your walking stick reminded me of Mr. Fu.”

Li Sixian furrowed his brows, understanding that this young man, Yu He, had made up his mind.

Yu He stood up, slightly bowed his head, and said to Li Sixian, “The encounters and opportunities in life are endless and complicated, but they come in a certain order. I’m truly sorry.”

After Li Sixian left, Yu He sat alone on the sofa, deep in thought for a long time.

Fu Yunzheng's waist injury is very typical. He has undergone four surgeries in total, which is quite rare. If there was no hope for recovery, he would not have qualified for surgery. Yu He had seen Fu Yunzheng's MRI films, and he was confident that Fu Yunzheng’s spinal nerves could be repaired.

However, since the fourth surgery, there has been no improvement in Fu Yunzheng’s lumbar nerves.

The weather was getting colder, which was not good news.

Yu He furrowed his brows, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and turned to go upstairs to find Fu Yunzheng.

Yu He helped Fu Yunzheng lie back down on the bed: “Let’s see how your surgical wound is healing.”

Unbuttoning the pajamas, the bandage around Fu Yunzheng’s waist was still intact.

The slender waist was tightly wrapped in white gauze.

Although he knew it was inappropriate, and swallowing saliva in front of a patient was very unprofessional, the moment he saw this scene, Yu He’s Adam's apple involuntarily moved up and down, and he unconsciously swallowed.

He simply couldn’t control himself.

Yu He heard Fu Yunzheng chuckle softly, and his ears couldn’t help but heat up, his face also flushing.

Fu Yunzheng exclaimed, “We’ve been together for two years, and you still swallow saliva at the sight of my waist. Where is your professional decorum?”

Yu He felt indignant and immediately looked up at Fu Yunzheng, his handsome face sternly meeting Fu Yunzheng’s gaze.

Knowing that Fu Yunzheng loved seeing him in high spirits, he slightly raised his eyebrows, casually curled his lips, and deliberately adopted a rebellious demeanor.

This time, it was Fu Yunzheng's Adam's apple that moved subtly.

Mimicking his actions, Yu He tilted his chin up and said, "We've been together for two years, and you even swallow saliva at my raised eyebrow. How impressive is that?"

Fu Yunzheng said, “I don't need this with you; come here and give me a kiss.”

Yu He, full of pride, leaned in and shared a light kiss with Fu Yunzheng.

They parted immediately, neither daring to linger, both fearing unintended consequences.

After inspecting Fu Yunzheng’s surgical wound, Yu He also lay back on the bed and closed his eyes to rest, “Liang Ran said we are too clingy. Do other couples also behave like this after two years of dating?”

Fu Yunzheng answered honestly, “I’m not sure. I haven't paid attention to others.”

Theoretically speaking, the feeling of love is composed of dopamine, phenylethylamine, and oxytocin. Over time, the human body naturally develops antibodies to these substances, leading to a fade in the novelty of love.

Yu He analyzed objectively, "Two years is still too short; let's see after ten years."

Fu Yunzheng had also read this theory and commented, “Such arguments are too one-sided. I reserve my opinion on this matter. Perhaps some relationships are like smallpox; once you've had it, you become immune for life. But it seems to me that I’m not like that with you.”

This was the first time Yu He had heard someone compare love to a virus. He propped himself up on his arm and asked, “What is that like?”

Fu Yunzheng looked at Yu He:

“If I really have to compare it to a virus...”

“You are like a severe influenza that I can’t avoid,

Destined to bring me headaches and fever, palpitations and chills.

I am utterly affected by you, yet I have no regrets, even as my belt loosens.

From now on, in every encounter, without exception,

You don’t need to pronounce a sentence, and I have no pardon.”

Fu Yunzheng didn’t continue speaking.

His eyebrows and eyes remained still, his expression calm and steady.

Therefore, Yu He had no way of knowing the answer in Fu Yunzheng’s heart.

Fu Yunzheng did not tell Yu He that he probably would never be able to synthesize antibodies against him in this lifetime.

A unidirectional infection is a disaster; Fu Yunzheng’s world was thrown into chaos and reorganized because of Yu He. One-sided deep affection can easily become a natural disaster for both parties.

Fortunately, Fu Yunzheng was also very aware that Yu He had no resistance against him.

So, they were incredibly lucky; this was an unavoidable mutual infection.